Image: AFP
The prerequisite, however, is a “giant leap” in investments in economic development, education and health, according to the international initiative Earth4All. The UN does not expect a peak of around 10.4 billion people until 2080. According to the UN, the world population passed the eight billion mark in November. The world population was last at six billion around the year 2000.
The Scenarios of the Researchers
In the working paper “People and Planet” published on Monday, the Earth4All researchers draw two possible scenarios for the future. In the first, the world continues to develop economically in a similar way to that of the past 50 years. Then the population will reach its peak by 2050, according to the analysis. In the second scenario, this could even be achieved by 2040 if, among other things, there were larger investments in fighting poverty. The Earth4All experts are convinced that other prominent population forecasts often underestimate the importance of rapid economic development.
“We know that rapid economic development in low-income countries has a huge impact on fertility rates,” said Per Espen Stoknes, director of the Earth4All project. “Fertility rates fall when girls are given access to education and women are economically empowered and have access to better health care.”
Source: Nachrichten
